July 04, 2011

Well, last week was a super duper busy one and culminated in a fun time last night watching the city fireworks show from our back yard! It was awesome and I didn't take one good picture! LOL! But I just sat and enjoyed it...thats worth something, right! We gathered with good food, a few good friends and a had a great time. I must admit...I've been waiting it out for today..looking forward to a little R&R. Or at least some time to do something I wanted...or nothing at all.

The girls had fun face painting last night and it turned out to be a fun idea! Here's Cash with his "flame job!" LOL!

Rather than being too lazy, I ended up doing something today...of course! Scott has been pickling everything that will fit into a Mason jar!!! LOL! We both decided it should just be a lazy day to just do what we want...I even toyed with the idea of doing some yardwork and HE of all people talked me out of it. Probably should be working on my Algebra, but just as any true procrastinator would...I came up with something much more pressing. I worked on making some birthday gifts for a few friends and family. I've been printing up a storm!!! These...

June 10, 2011

Loved this gorgeous photo of my paper cones I created for a recent issue of Scrapbooks etc. magazine...back inside cover :) They mentioned them for use as May Day baskets! So sweet! They created an awesome tutorial and printable design from my creation! So fun! How could they NOT be -- all that lovely Bella Blvd. paper!!! PRETTY!! You can use these fun cones for so many different uses:

May 26, 2011

Nope, it's not Friday. But I've been up late working on the details for my little Abby's birthday party. Even if its just for us, I have really purposed to make the kids' birthdays really special. Not going to a lot of expense, just making things really fun and cute for them. I'll have to share some my favorite frugal ideas in another post. But until then...I thought I'd share a fun little mini-birthday banner printable--->

I've been seeing some simple birthday cakes with fun mini banners perched on top between two stripey straws...love this idea. See some awesome ideas for buntings here at TomKat Studio. Be prepared to stay awhile ;)

My banner is not super small...the larger pieces measure just over 2" in height-- here you can see how I used it...

I placed it upon a decorated cookie cake. I have several pieces that coordinate with this set...a large banner, party signs, cupcake picks, and more. See a fun DIY here and more pics of my party design. Someday soon, hope to get these things on the site too!

NOTE: You may have to set your printer settings to "BORDERLESS" in order to print this as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like this Epson brand.

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :)

March 11, 2011

Yes, its true! I finally have a freebie for YOU! I know its been a long time, but I know y'all understand! Last week I told myself I'd do something creative at least every few days...for fun, to exercise my creative muscles! This is somthing fun I did-- happy to share it with y'all. Hey, hopefully more of this to come. You know I've got big dreams, right?! I'm on a roll...I even posted in the Whimsy Shoppe recently! WOW! Hopefully, I'll be able to get more of my printable designs available for you to Cut and Create with very soon! Spring break is around the corner! YAY!

Hope you enjoy this fun card...it reminds me of March...a big blue sky with a few fluffly clouds and a colorful banner sailing high in the March breeze! Send it to someone you care about with a handwritten note ;) You could even cut this down and use it as a scrapbook element? (I might have to try that!)

NOTE: You may have to set your printer settings to "BORDERLESS" in order to print this as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like this Epson brand.

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :)

September 04, 2010

Well, it's Saturday. I got up at 7 a.m. and felt like I'd WAY over slept after rising at 5:30 a.m. with the roosters these last two weeks. Scott took Cash to coffee at the "man hangout" and I'm left in still, quiet bliss. The windows are open and its cool...it feels like fall is finally here. It's so wonderful!

I'm sitting here for a few minutes trying to figure out where to start first. My to do list is long and I even feel like writing this post is a bit of a misappropriation of time but I need to let y'all know where I stand (you, know, YOU, my seven readers :) and sort of come to terms with the thoughts in my head by typing them out.

(this is me in my class with my 27 inch iMac behind me :)

(-- well, not mine, but the one at my desk at class)

First-- I am LOVING school. The second day of one of my classes, the teacher laid it out for us. Graphic design is a very competitive field (knew that). The economy is not what is used to be (mmm hmmm, yes). The "freshman" class of 60-80 something graphic design students will be narrowed to 20 after this first year (whoa!!!!). They only graduated 12 seniors last year (interesting). My reaction...FAILURE IS NOT an option. It's just not. I'm in, it's on and I've got to see this through. God has put this in play, I am totally faithful that there is a purpose in my doing this and beyond my first priority of FAMILY-- I have to give it 200%.

With that said...I don't think I will have a ton of time to devote to some of my blog endeavors-- such as the Whimsy Shoppe, 52 week challenge and Free for ALL Fridays. That doesn't mean that I'm throwing my hands up and quitting...it just means that I will just do what I can. It may not be that I add a freebie EVERY Friday...but I will continue to add things as I can. I think I will actually be able to draw a lot of inspiration from the projects in my classes, so I look forward to using my class projects a springboard, possibly, for freebies. As far as the shoppe, I plan to continue making things as time allows but probably selling locally...I just have so little time to devote outside of school to these things and I have to come to terms...I'm not super woman and can't stop time and get it all done...even though I REALLY wanna do it all. :)

My goal is to do this college thing full force. Now, you all know (or maybe you don't) that my roots run DEEP in the scrapbook industry. After nine years of teaching, designing and creating I have been blessed in so many ways, come away with friendships that are priceless, and it was the seed that has sprouted as I have grown into a designer...going to college is my way of validating that, I suppose. I want to work on a more professional level and see what doors open up. Hopefully, you will see me again as a product designer both in the paper craft industry as well as beyond!!!

You'll still see my work in Scrapbooks etc. as I get the opportunities to contribute, I'll still post regularly here, I'll still be scrapbooking as time allows and you can rest assured that I will NEVER stop creating...something...always.

Speaking of Scrapbooks etc...check out the October 2010 issue hitting stands... guess who did the cover ;) Check out the "behind the scenes" notes by the editors here.

So I just wanted to let y'all know what's up...thanks for visiting me and I'll keep you updated on my ADVENTURES as a COLLEGE MOM. Now I'm off to finish some jewelry orders.

September 03, 2010

Just wanted to link up a new printable that I designed for Milano Maven, Laurie at Tip Junkie. How cool is that!!! I was granted permission to use trademarked graphics and logo to create a sweet, simple card and tag design! Go check out Milano's Facebook page and share YOUR Milano moment.

So go read up on it, head to the store and pick up a package (I had to test them out in order to design this little printable, of course and they are heavenly) and share a Milano Moment with someone special! I know with all the hubbub of getting back to school lots of us probably deserve a little moment alone with something sinful...yummy!

August 20, 2010

Many of you know by now that I am a FRUGALISTA! I clip coupons and save money where ever I can...especially these days! Months ago, my Mother shared with me an idea she'd clipped out of our local electric coop magazine, Rural Arkansas. It was a recipe for making your own laundry soap and it was a short list of ingredients. She made a batch and raved about it. I was in the throws of coupon clipping and picking up laundry soap for $2 or less a bottle at Walgreens so I filed the thought and figured I'd revisit later when my stash of ALL and Arm & Hammer ran out.

Anyway...fast forward to a month ago, it was love at first SNIFF!!! The Fels-Naptha soap bar used to make this stuff is HEAVENLY!! Mother gave me a little sample batch of her soap and I was hooked! And it is SUPER, DUPER cheap. A few cents per load...yeah, cheap!!! There are several different recipes out there and if you have hard water you may have to make some adjustments...so just google "homemade laundry soap" to find the variations. I also found a recipe for making dishwasher detergent...so that's why I've included that on this printable. Guess what --it also uses two of the same ingredients from the laundry soap.

So I made a batch...or six :) For one batch--

You need one bar of Fels-Naptha soap

1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

1 cup Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (NOT baking soda)

(find all three ingredients at local groceries in the laundry supplies, hardware shops, or visit the links below on Amazon).

(forgive my photos...took with the phone)

(to give you an idea of what the packages look like)

The process is so very simple it just takes a few minutes...and contrary to what the images may look like, there is NO CHEDDAR CHEESE involved :)

I grated the bar of soap with my food processor. It looks like cheese at first. Then I processed to a finer consistency with the blade.

To make sure the three ingredients combined well, I processed all three to mix well.

I tend to keep (hoard) containers :) so this oats box was PERFECT for storing the detergent in.

And then I transformed it...

Just cover the box with a favorite scrapbook paper, use a strong adhesive to ensure it stays put and print the label on cardstock to match. Voila!

August 13, 2010

Abby had her open house tonight...Scott and I kind of tag team on these from year to year so he took her this time. I can't believe school starts in one week. :( Abby is excited and Cash is wishing he could go to school too!!! She wanted to take her new teachers something and I revamped the "thank you teacher" card I did for the end of last year for a more general occasion type of note card. She has two teachers so this worked out perfectly-- the printable has two cards on one page.

I just printed, trimmed along the lines and used a corner punch to round the corners. Easy peasy! Abby wrote a sweet note inside and set off to meet her new teachers! Check out some other FREE, awesome, easy back to school printables here on Living Locurto.

NOTE: You'll have to set your printer settings to
"BORDERLESS" in order to print these as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.
These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like
this Epson Ultra Premium Matte Presentation Paper--

August 06, 2010

Hi y'all! Just wanted to pop in and say that in lieu of my regular FRIDAY FREEBIE here on my blog, I had the amazing opportunity of guest posting for Laurie Locurto while she's cruisin'. How cool is that?!?!?!!? (very!!! :)

Anyway, I created a printable invitation just for Living Locurto! Summer's winding down so why not throw an end of the summer pool party to wrap up the fun! Pop on over to her blog to pick up this freebie!

July 30, 2010

I know, I know...a lot of what I do is pretty girly...as far as the printables go :) I'm working on it...but you see the printable goods are just sweet things that strike my fancy. Anyway, today-- I have a fun printable Birthday tag & notecard set that is totally gender neutral...I think? These note cards (similar to the Berry Cherry cards) are just cute little square notecards with coordinating tags...not really meant to be hidden in an envelope. Simply punch a hole in either and tie it on to your package!

I like to use a corner rounder punch for these cards too. The tags on today's printable are sized just under 2" so pull out your handy dandy 2" circle punch for perfect little tags! You could also use these fun little 2" circles for cupcake picks...just punch another solid circle for the back and attach to a pick/toothpick for a festive cupcake! If I was trapped on a desert island, I would simply HAVE to HAVE my 2" circle punch...though I am REALLY REALLY in need of a new one! I've just about worn this one out!

NOTE: You'll have to set your printer settings to
"BORDERLESS" in order to print these as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.
These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like
this Epson
brand.